- Attractions by Region -
Izumo Taisha, Matsue Castle, and Adachi Museum—soak up the spirit of Shimane.
Izumo Taisha
An ancient shrine dedicated to Ōkuninushi, famed for match‑making blessings. The massive sacred straw rope and the 24‑m‑high main hall are awe‑inspiring.
Matsue Castle
A National Treasure keep. The black‑lacquered tower framed by cherry blossoms is best admired from the Horikawa moat boat cruise.
Adachi Museum of Art
A Japanese garden ranked No.1 worldwide and a superb Yokoyama Taikan collection—borrowed scenery that is art itself through all seasons.
The land of matchmaking—24‑m main hall & giant shimenawa
When eight million deities gather
One of Japan’s oldest shrines and the “headquarters of matchmaking,” where deities nationwide convene for the Kamiari‑sai in the 10th lunar month. The cypress‑bark‑roofed main hall is a National Treasure, rising a majestic 24 m.
The shimenawa at the worship hall measures 13 m long and 5 t in weight. Legend says if a coin sticks in the rope, your wish will come true—challengers line up all day.
◆ History & Origin: Appears in the Kojiki; the seat of Ōkuninushi since mythic times.
◆ Highlights: The gigantic rope at Kagura Hall and the pine‑lined approach.
◆ Tip: The shrine clap here is “two bows, four claps, one bow”—extra claps for better “connection.”
◆ Access: 5 min on foot from Ichibata Railway Izumo Taisha‑mae; 30 min by car from Izumo Airport.
Historic keep & “Chidori” gables—see it from the Horikawa cruise
The black “Chidori” keep over the lake city
Built in 1611, the five‑story, six‑level keep features black board siding and distinctive gables. The swelling curve of the stone base intimidates would‑be attackers.
From the Horikawa boats, the mirrored keep doubles your photos; in winter, kotatsu boats turn the ride into a cozy “foot‑bath cruise.”
◆ History & Origin: Constructed by Horio Yoshiharu; one of 12 surviving keeps, designated a National Treasure in 2015.
◆ Highlights: Sunset views over Lake Shinjiko from the top; try on armor at the armory exhibit.
◆ Tip: Bullet marks on timbers are said to be a Boshin War misfire—your guide may call them a “natural option.”
◆ Access: 10 min by bus from JR Matsue Station (“National Treasure Matsue Castle”).
Japan’s No.1 garden 20 years running & Yokoyama Taikan collection
Where “a garden becomes a painting”
The 50,000‑tsubo (≈165,000 m²) dry landscape and moss gardens are framed like living paintings; a U.S. publication ranked them Japan’s No.1 for 20 consecutive years.
With about 120 works by Yokoyama Taikan—the most in Japan—the gardens and paintings resonate, with seasonal rotations like a living art anthology.
◆ History & Origin: Founded in 1970 by ceramics merchant Adachi Zenko, who believed “a garden is also a painting.”
◆ Highlights: The new‑wing café’s “garden latte art” reportedly sells out 300 cups a day.
◆ Tip: Staff tweeze fallen leaves one by one; no‑photo policy protects the “garden’s copyright.”
◆ Access: 20‑min free shuttle from JR Yasugi; 10‑min drive from San’in Expwy Yasugi IC.
World Heritage—Ryūgenji tunnel & samurai town Ōmori by bike
“Samurai silver” sleeping for 400 years
Over 600 mine tunnels remain from the 16th–19th centuries; Ryūgenji Mabu is open to visitors—a 14 °C, 90% humidity underground world.
In Ōmori’s samurai district, cafés and craft shops line red‑tile streets; rent a cycle to time‑travel through mining history.
◆ History & Origin: Discovered in 1526; once produced about a third of the world’s silver, earning Japan the name “land of silver.”
◆ Highlights: Stone pavements and amber‑hued Sekishū tiles glowing at sunset.
◆ Tip: Bats in the tunnels are being studied for “silver‑scent navigation.”
◆ Access: 30‑min bus from JR Ōda Station (to “Ōmori Daikansho‑ato”); 20‑min drive from San’in Expwy Ōda‑Chūō IC.
A fleeting flame—sun crowns a sea‑tower candle
A natural candle lit on the horizon
Only when the setting sun aligns atop a 20‑m basalt sea stack does the “flame” ignite; skippers time tides and angle to frame the moment.
You get about a 15‑minute window on roughly 180 days a year—bag it and you’re one of the “chosen sailors,” locals say.
◆ History & Origin: An eroded columnar‑jointed basalt icon of the Oki Geopark.
◆ Highlights: Five‑minute‑to‑sunset signal—then shutters fire in unison.
◆ Tip: Some captains tout a 90% success rate; miss it and there’s a tongue‑in‑cheek “sunset discount.”
◆ Access: 30‑min drive from Saigō Port to Uragō Pier; 60‑min cruise; 25‑min drive from Oki Airport.
“Beauty bath” flowing direct—lanterns along the river at night
Cosmetic spring blessed by Izumo myth
With sulfate and mildly alkaline properties, it moisturizes like a serum. The “jewel‑skin” legend is recorded in the 8th‑century Izumo Fudoki.
Footbaths by the river, lanterns at night, and magatama (comma‑bead) making—check off “good luck, glow, and craft” in one go.
◆ History & Origin: Opened 1,300 years ago; named for bead‑makers who healed wounds here.
◆ Highlights: Summer “river of light” with 5,000 lanterns—an Instagram nightscape favorite.
◆ Tip: Bottled source water sold as “drinkable lotion”; chilled with soda becomes an “onsen highball.”
◆ Access: 10‑min bus from JR Tamatsukuri‑Onsen Station; 15‑min drive from San’in Expwy Shinji IC.
Japan’s Top 100 sunsets—golden “mirror of the lake”
A carpet of water reflecting crimson skies
From Shinjiko Bridge, the sun sinks near Yomegashima, streaking the lake with a “golden corridor.”
At lakeside café “Yūhi‑an,” the “sunset latte” shimmers with each tilt of the cup.
◆ History & Origin: Once a beacon guiding boats along the waterway to Izumo Taisha.
◆ Highlights: The October “Sunset Concert”—live music syncing with the dying light.
◆ Tip: “Yūhiru,” a student‑made sunset‑forecast app, boasts a 93% hit rate.
◆ Access: 15‑min walk from JR Matsue Station; 20‑min drive from Tamatsukuri Onsen.
Home of the “lucky” beluga bubble ring
White angels dancing in Kamiari month
Japan’s beluga family creates 1‑m bubble rings that float like wreaths above spectators—said to bring happiness.
Rays cast shadows on the ceiling like a “seabed planetarium”; night openings dial the wonder to 200%.
◆ History & Origin: Opened in 2000; largest on the Sea of Japan coast with ~13,000 creatures.
◆ Highlights: Bubble ring show; semi‑outdoor penguin “Peng‑Para” channel.
◆ Tip: Gift shop’s dolphin‑shaped fish cake is a hit—land souvenir No.1 at an aquarium.
◆ Access: 10‑min walk from JR Hashi Station; 5‑min drive from Hamada‑higashi IC.
Every Saturday—8‑m serpent thrashes through the crowd
The hot‑spring street shakes to “serpent rock”
Weekend shows at Yunotsu’s Yakushiyu. The 60‑kg body of the eight‑headed serpent is handled by four performers who weave through the audience.
After the show, chat with performers at the footbath (no, not mixed bathing!); get your head playfully “bitten” by a lion head for a lively exorcism.
◆ History & Origin: A village kagura across 33 communities; lavish costumes reflect the Meiji mining boom.
◆ Highlights: 18 programs on rotation; pyrotechnic “Jinrin” is front‑row mandatory.
◆ Tip: Local high‑school textile club helps repair the serpent’s body—arts club meets arm day.
◆ Access: 15‑min walk from JR Yunotsu Station; 20‑min drive from Ōda‑Chūō‑Sanbe IC.
“Little Kyoto” of San’in—koi in waterways & samurai school streets
Red tiles, white walls, and postcard‑perfect koi
About 1,000 koi glide in the waterways; the samurai street with the old domain school “Yōrōkan” preserves Edo charm.
Mori Ōgai’s former home and Taikodani Inari Shrine are within walking distance; the whistle of the SL Yamaguchi steam train completes the nostalgia.
◆ History & Origin: Castle town of the Yoshimi clan for 700 years; paving with Hagi stone and red Sekishū tiles.
◆ Highlights: The June Heron Dance—UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage—an unparalleled sacred performance.
◆ Tip: Koi food from 50‑yen “koi‑coin” vending machines—the koi remember and come right up.
◆ Access: 10‑min walk from JR Tsuwano Station; 50‑min drive from Hagi‑Iwami Airport.
Drive a 1928 train yourself—rails overlooking Izumo Taisha
Make your motorman debut on “Bata‑den”
Take the controls of Dehani Car 52 (built 1928) on a 300‑m training track. Instructors teach the classic two‑handle throttle and brake one‑on‑one.
Vintage hanging ads remain; the unsprung ride is a time machine to the Shōwa era.
◆ History & Origin: Among Japan’s oldest commuter cars; registered as cultural property in 2014, now for experiences only.
◆ Highlights: View of Inasa Beach and Hinomisaki Lighthouse silhouette from the cab.
◆ Tip: The completion certificate is a traditional hard‑ticket—stamp it yourself with a real puncher.
◆ Access: 2‑min walk from Ichibata Railway Izumo Taisha‑mae; 5‑min drive from Ichibataguchi Station.
Japan’s tallest stone lighthouse—360° horizon panorama
Climb to a “sky lantern” 63 m above sea
Lit in 1903, the 43‑m white tower is Japan’s tallest stone lighthouse. Ascend 163 spiral steps to a view of the Sea of Japan and rugged black‑pine cliffs.
At night, the beam cuts 28 km into the dark—known as the “midnight searchlight.”
◆ History & Origin: British design; a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
◆ Highlights: Sunset produces pillars of orange light—prime photo time.
◆ Tip: Squid‑ink soft serve imagines the “dark lighthouse”—mind the black tongue.
◆ Access: 45‑min bus from JR Izumo Station (“Hinomisaki Lighthouse”).
200‑m columnar joints—trail & riverside café
An “organ of stone” carved by the river
A tributary of the Hii River sculpted 2 km of cliffs in columnar‑jointed basalt, towering like a pipe organ.
The 40‑min loop trail cools in summer at a riverside café; in autumn, the whole gorge turns a scroll of red.
◆ History & Origin: Developed as a scenic site in the Taishō era; dubbed the “San’in Yabakei” in early Shōwa.
◆ Highlights: The 45‑m “torii rock” of Itsukushima Shrine—the guardian of the gorge.
◆ Tip: Campground Wi‑Fi is strong—“gorge workations” are quietly trending.
◆ Access: 25‑min bus from JR Izumo Station (“Tachikue‑kyō Onsen‑guchi”), then 5‑min walk.
Grassland trek & star‑dark skies—Shimane’s composite cone
The “navel of Izumo” floating in meadows
A multi‑peaked volcano topped by Onna‑Sanbe (1,126 m). Bamboo‑grass meadows and grazing cattle paint a pastoral landscape.
The crater lake “Muro‑no‑uchi” glows blue; nights are dark enough for Milky Way brilliance.
◆ History & Origin: Last major eruptions about 40,000 years ago; carbonated Sanbe Onsen bubbles like “ramune.”
◆ Highlights: Dogtooth violets in April; golden pampas grass in November.
◆ Tip: Deer nap under the lift in winter—expect some stray fur in spring rides.
◆ Access: 60‑min bus from JR Ōda City Station (“Sanbe‑yama Kita‑no‑hara”); 35‑min drive from Ōda‑Chūō IC.
“Mirror Pond” love fortune—Izumo’s romance hotspot
Love decided before the paper sinks
Dedicated to Susanoo and Princess Inada. Float a paper with a coin on the Mirror Pond—time and distance to sinking foretell your match.
The sacred “Twin Camellia” fuses into one trunk mid‑growth—symbol of marital harmony; weekend photo lines stretch 30 m.
◆ History & Origin: Recorded in the Izumo Fudoki; stage of the “making many fences” myth.
◆ Highlights: Five‑color “matchmaking threads” talisman—each color for a different bond.
◆ Tip: If the paper sinks too fast, rumor says “wedding soon”; if it won’t, blame the paper quality.
◆ Access: 20‑min bus from JR Matsue Station (“Yaegaki Shrine”).
Oldest extant Taisha‑zukuri main hall—mossy steps into time
“Oldest Izumo Taisha” slumbering 1,300 years
The National Treasure main hall (12 m) in Taisha style rises from the forest under a cypress‑bark roof.
After rain, the moss‑covered stone steps turn into a deep‑green carpet and silence wraps the approach.
◆ History & Origin: Named in the Izumo Fudoki, dedicated mainly to Izanami.
◆ Highlights: The sacred rock behind the main hall is off‑limits to photography—visitors often fall quiet, sensing its presence.
◆ Tip: The “moss amulet” is a tiny bottle with a live moss ball—when it withers, your misfortune is said to have passed.
◆ Access: 20‑min bus from JR Matsue Station (“Kamimusubi Shrine Entrance”) + 7‑min walk.
Izumo’s primary shrine—fire‑making ritual & torch ceremony
Origin place of sacred fire
Sacred to Susanoo, said to have taught humans to make fire here. The thick shimenawa rivals Izumo Taisha’s in impact.
On Oct 15, the Sanbi‑sai features ancient fire‑drilling; many queue to receive the purified flame.
◆ History & Origin: Listed in the Izumo Fudoki as Ichinomiya of the province—tradition says founded in the age of the gods.
◆ Highlights: Pre‑rite washing flints in the mirror pond—flames reflecting on water look otherworldly.
◆ Tip: The “San‑go Mamori” amulet seals the sacred fire—popular as kitchen safety charm.
◆ Access: 20‑min bus from JR Matsue Station (“Kumano Taisha”).
200 species from fresh to brackish—hands‑on mini‑aquarium
Meet the “fresh‑sea hybrids”
Tanks recreate the brackish world of Lake Shinjiko and Nakaumi—gobies, eel, icefish and ~200 more.
Dig for Yamato shijimi clams at the touch pool and watch waterbirds from the lakeside terrace—learn with all five senses.
◆ History & Origin: Opened 2003; name comes from goby family “Gobiidae.”
◆ Highlights: Giant lamprey tank—see the suction‑cup mouth up close.
◆ Tip: “Shijimi soft‑serve” has ~3× the calcium of typical cones.
◆ Access: 10‑min bus from JR Shinji Station (“Shizenkangō‑mae”).
Triple main halls & UNESCO dance “Sada Shin Noh”
Izumo’s living “stage machinery”
Three parallel cypress‑bark roofs line up beyond the torii—an overwhelming wooden skyline.
Around the autumn equinox, the Sada Shin Noh (UNESCO Intangible Heritage) is dedicated; demon masks whirl torches in thrilling choreography.
◆ History & Origin: Second shrine of Izumo, dedicated to Sada‑no‑Ōkami, son of Susanoo.
◆ Highlights: Northern approach is the best angle for the triple‑roof photo.
◆ Tip: The treasury stores masks under wine‑cellar‑level climate control.
◆ Access: 25‑min bus from JR Matsue Station (“Sada Shrine”).
Switchbacks & triple loops—open‑air mountain train
The “iron eight‑headed serpent” of mountain gorges
Climbs the steep Kiski Line using switchbacks and a three‑tier loop bridge; open windows reveal seas of clouds and primeval beech forest.
In autumn, the crew slows for photos as the valley blazes with color.
◆ History & Origin: Began 1998; rolling stock renewed in 2023.
◆ Highlights: Everyone stands at the triple loop to capture the continuous curves.
◆ Tip: “Orochi Bento” includes eight‑fold soba in a serpent‑accordion package.
◆ Access: From JR Kisuki Station; chain your ride with local trains for rail‑fan fun.
2 km of granite boulders—view from the Lovers’ Bridge
A labyrinth carved in granite
The Maki River carved 2 km of dramatic boulders and cliffs; the name recalls a demon shaking its tongue.
The 160‑m Lovers’ Suspension Bridge rises 45 m; spot the heart‑shaped rock below for lucky love.
◆ History & Origin: A National Place of Scenic Beauty—Heian courtiers once held cool‑breeze parties here.
◆ Highlights: Fireflies and star reflections in summer delight photographers.
◆ Tip: Don’t jump on the center span—it sways and staff will properly scold you.
◆ Access: 15‑min drive from JR Nita Station; ~30‑min hike from Roadside Station Obara Dam.
Natural CO₂ onsen—“bubble armor” & drinkable spring
3,000 ppm fizzy bliss
Bubbles constantly rise; soak and your skin silvers over with fine CO₂ pearls.
Sip mildly sweet natural soda at the spring stand—feel the effects inside and out.
◆ History & Origin: A Taishō‑era soda bottling plant once shipped “San’in Cider” nationwide.
◆ Highlights: Outdoor bath deck for stargazing—Milky Way meets micro‑bubbles.
◆ Tip: Source is 23 °C; heating kills bubbles, so the bath keeps it cool on principle.
◆ Access: 5‑min drive from Matsue Expwy Tonbara IC; 50‑min bus from JR Kisuki Station (“Tonbara”).
Climb a thousand vermilion torii—one of Japan’s Five Great Inari
Charge your luck through a tunnel of red
The 263 steps up the hillside are roofed by ~1,000 torii, creating a continuous vermilion tunnel.
Write wishes on fox ema and press your forehead to the “wish stone”—a unique local rite.
◆ History & Origin: Enshrined from Fushimi in 1773; counted among Japan’s Five Great Inari shrines.
◆ Highlights: Balcony view over the koi‑lined canals of the castle town.
◆ Tip: Sponsor a torii from ~¥180,000—installments accepted; merchants treat it like a subscription.
◆ Access: 20‑min walk from JR Tsuwano; for easier climbs, taxi to the top and descend through the torii.
200‑year‑old storehouse filled with Japanese‑pattern quilts
Izumo myths sewn in cloth
Japan’s first quilt‑dedicated museum in a 200‑year‑old kura storehouse. Walls bloom with quilts themed on Izumo Taisha and magatama beads.
The tearoom serves cakes inspired by quilt patterns—sweets and stitches together.
◆ History & Origin: Opened 2000; supervised by world‑renowned quilter Saitō Yōko.
◆ Highlights: Seasonal themes—cherry‑blossom fabrics in spring, maple in autumn.
◆ Tip: Admission includes a mini patchwork kit—continue the story at home.
◆ Access: 15‑min drive from JR Izumo; 20‑min walk from Ichibata Takahama Station.
280,000 Sekishū tiles blaze red at sunset
“Iwami Red” turns the walls into a screen
280,000 roof tiles clad the exterior; at sunset they glow, reflecting in a courtyard mirror pond between the museum and hall.
At night, the tiles mirror the stars—an entrancing red‑and‑black contrast.
◆ History & Origin: Opened 2005; designed by SANAA’s Sejima Kazuyo, realized by master tile artisans.
◆ Highlights: Iwami Kagura mask collection and top‑tier acoustics in the multipurpose hall.
◆ Tip: “Living tiles” can be replaced; public calls bring artisans to maintain chips.
◆ Access: 15‑min walk from JR Masuda; 10‑min drive from San’in Expwy Masuda IC.
Sand squeaks underfoot—nature’s music box
Footprints that play “sand koto”
Fine quartz‑rich sand (≈90%) squeaks when grains rub, producing a clear chirp—drier days sing higher.
As sunset reddens, the tone rises slightly—locals call it “sunset tuning.”
◆ History & Origin: Once an inn station on the Yunotsu road; Edo notes likened footsteps to a koto.
◆ Highlights: The cultural museum’s one‑year hourglass—sand falls for 365 days.
◆ Tip: Oils mute the sound—borrow brushes at the entrance to clean shoe soles.
◆ Access: 15‑min walk from JR Habane; 10‑min drive from San’in Expwy Yunotsu IC.
50 tumuli & National Treasure bronze swords—walk into ancient ages
A “myth‑archaeology park” of bronze and earth
About 50 tombs including “square‑cornered protruding” types dot the park; trails let you wander from Yayoi into the Kofun era.
Museum displays 358 bronze swords from Kojindani and six bronze bells—circle them as 360° sound recreations ring the hall.
◆ History & Origin: Opened 1975; named after the Izumo Fudoki gazetteer.
◆ Highlights: Slopes blanketed in dogtooth violets in spring—purple carpets.
◆ Tip: Bronze gallery holds 50% humidity automatically; doors close to dehumidify when crowded.
◆ Access: 25‑min bus from JR Matsue (“Fudoki‑no‑Oka Entrance”) + 5‑min walk.
Giant “Uzu pillars” & chorus of bronze bells—myth meets archaeology
Timbers for a legendary sky‑high shrine
1.35‑m‑diameter pillars stand like a forest, supporting a 1/10 model of the 48‑m Heian‑period main hall theorized for Izumo Taisha.
39 bronze bells from Kamo‑Iwakura ring in a 360° soundscape—feel the history vibrate.
◆ History & Origin: Opened 2007; designed by SANAA’s Nishizawa Ryue to harmonize with the shrine precincts.
◆ Highlights: “Kami‑ari month” lighting—bells guide you through an illuminated night museum.
◆ Tip: The “Uzu‑pillar parfait” spikes a 48‑cm biscuit post—photo‑ready.
◆ Access: 3‑min walk from Izumo Taisha main hall; 5‑min walk from Ichibata Izumo Taisha‑mae.
10 free tastings—“Enmusubi Rosé” & wagyū BBQ
Taste Izumo grapes in one sweep
A prefectural winery producing Delaware and Muscat Bailey A. Sample around 10 types (sweet‑to‑dry, including rosé) free at the pairing hall.
Grill Shimane wagyū at the garden BBQ and pour from self‑serve wine taps.
◆ History & Origin: Founded 1977; famed for value and frequent tour‑bus stops.
◆ Highlights: Unfiltered “new wine” in autumn—gentle natural fizz from live yeast.
◆ Tip: “Wine soft‑serve” peaks in aroma half‑frozen, staff say.
◆ Access: 10‑min bus from JR Izumo (“Shimane Winery”).
Head shrine of Ebisu & Kotoshironushi—pray for fishing, business, and ties
Double blessings with the sea at your back
Head shrine over thousands of Ebisu shrines—gain prosperity and matchmaking together.
The twin‑roofed “Miho‑zukuri” main halls (Important Cultural Property) sit among blue tiles and pine groves in sea breeze.
◆ History & Origin: Listed as “Misaki Shrine” in the Izumo Fudoki; paired visits with Izumo Taisha are said to boost bonds.
◆ Highlights: Apr 7 “Aoshio Fence Rite”—processional boats carry deities across Miho Bay.
◆ Tip: “Ringing‑stone omikuji” shakes like a shell to call in luck.
◆ Access: 40‑min Ichibata bus from JR Matsue to “Miho‑no‑Seki Terminal,” then 5‑min walk.
Circle Matsue Castle—duck under low bridges on kotatsu boats
Mind your head under “just‑above‑head” bridges
A 50‑min loop of the castle’s outer moat. At 17 low bridges, the boatman calls “Heads down please!”—and everyone ducks.
In winter, heated kotatsu tables and blankets turn it into a cozy ride through snow‑dusted “Chidori Castle.”
◆ History & Origin: Moat dug in early Edo for defense; sightseeing boats launched in 1996.
◆ Highlights: In cherry season, the moat turns into a petal raft—“waterborne flower carpet.”
◆ Tip: A local dog waves from a house by the canal—an infamous “Horikawa regular.”
◆ Access: Matsue Horikawa Fureai Plaza pier—10‑min walk from JR Matsue.
800,000 blooms over rolling hills & all‑weather greenhouse
Walk the “corridor of flowers” in shifting palettes
Across 9 ha, bulbs to perennials take turns—800,000 plants bloom in layered colors.
The glasshouse keeps tropical lilies and hibiscus blooming year‑round—rainy‑day proof.
◆ History & Origin: Opened 2001 as a horticultural hub for “Flower & Green Izumo.”
◆ Highlights: May lily festival—scents from 300 varieties fill the park.
◆ Tip: Flower soft‑serve with edible florals—Instagram‑ready monthly toppings.
◆ Access: 15‑min drive from JR Izumo; 5‑min drive from San’in Expwy Hikawa IC.
Mineral‑rich hot spring in a World Heritage port town
Retro steam at “Yakushiyu” bathhouse
A chloride spring in the port that shipped Iwami Ginzan silver. The Registered cultural Yakushiyu bathhouse boasts retro tiles.
Stroll stone streets in yukata after bathing—time‑travel to the mine’s bustling days.
◆ History & Origin: Said discovered by monk Gyōki 1,300 years ago; Edo miners used it to heal.
◆ Highlights: Iron tints the soaking tub red—natural bath “additive” swirling.
◆ Tip: Complete the public‑bath stamp rally to win a hand‑drawn mining tenugui cloth.
◆ Access: 15‑min walk from JR Yunotsu; 10‑min drive from San’in Expwy Yunotsu IC.
7.2‑million‑year story on a fossil‑stamped rock terrace
Pages of time turned by the sea
Waves exposed former seabed layers into a 1‑km rock “tatami.”
River‑pebble casts and shell marks make a tactile geology textbook; tide pools teem with life at low tide.
◆ History & Origin: Naumann documented it in Meiji as one of Japan’s largest wave‑cut terraces.
◆ Highlights: Sixteen Rakan statues en route—memorials and photo icons in one.
◆ Tip: Fossil collecting is banned—hunt the legendary “heart fossil” at low tide instead.
◆ Access: 15‑min Iwami bus from JR Hamada (“Kokubunji”), then 10‑min walk.
257‑m cliffs—UNESCO Geopark grassland trail
Sky‑grassland dropping into cobalt sea
Volcanic deposits carved by the Sea of Japan form 257‑m Matengai cliffs; grazing cows and horses crown the green edge.
Finish at the “Tsūten Bridge” rock arch, staring into cobalt depth below your feet.
◆ History & Origin: Core site of the Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark; showcases ~5‑million‑year volcanic traces.
◆ Highlights: Sunset stretches cliff shadows over the sea—an “orange fjord.”
◆ Tip: Free‑roaming cattle act as “natural lawn mowers,” locals joke.
◆ Access: 25‑min drive from Beppu Port; summer shuttle buses operate.
Last operating tatara site—thousand years of iron smoke
Flames tell the story of “Iron Izumo”
An Edo‑era sand‑iron smelter preserved nearly intact—huge bellows and furnace remains echo with imagined roars.
In May and October, live smelts burst forth red blooms of steel to cheers.
◆ History & Origin: Opened ~1660; produced sand iron until 1977.
◆ Highlights: The high‑hall beams are single 20‑m logs—masterful carpentry.
◆ Tip: Tours led by descendants of the master smelters (murage)—iron talk runs long (in a good way).
◆ Access: 20‑min drive from JR Kisuki; 15‑min drive from Matsue Expwy Yoshida‑Kakeya IC.
All‑weather flower & bird park—face‑to‑beak with shoebills
Birds and blossoms under glass
One of the world’s largest flower greenhouses and vast walk‑in aviaries—toucans skim just overhead.
Penguin parade and the shoebill’s deadpan meet‑and‑greet—enjoy “bird‑time” in any weather.
◆ History & Origin: Opened 2001; next to Izumo Airport—flowers, birds, and flights in harmony.
◆ Highlights: 10,000 hanging begonias—a waterfall of color.
◆ Tip: Owl‑on‑arm weighs ~2 kg—next‑day “owl ache” is real.
◆ Access: 1‑min walk from Ichibata “Matsue Vogel Park Station”; 10‑min drive from Izumo Airport.
In the 10th lunar month, deities gather for a “matchmaking summit”
All the gods on business trip to Izumo
While other provinces call it “Kannazuki” (no gods month), Izumo celebrates “Kamiarizuki” as deities convene to discuss bonds and fortunes for the year.
In the deity‑welcoming rite, the Dragon‑Serpent leads from Inasa Beach to the main hall; torchlit processions create a river of light.
◆ History & Origin: Noted in the Heian‑era Jingiryō Gige; over a millennium of tradition.
◆ Highlights: On the day of the divine conference, some say faint bells ring behind the main hall.
◆ Tip: Festival‑only “Matchmaking Salt” is a limited talisman—food tastes milder with a pinch, locals claim.
◆ Access: 5‑min walk from Ichibata Izumo Taisha‑mae; sunset buses run to Lake Shinjiko viewing spots.